b'EDITORS LETTEREntrepreneurs:The Key to Economic SurvivalFALL 2020EditorThanks to our advertisers forcompanies. In this issue, we introduceChamber of Commerce president for making this publication possible! readers to retirees that decided its nevermore than 20 years. Myrna gave me that too late to start a business, millennialsnudge in the direction of starting a public Ace Electric that took a giant business ownership leap,relations agency and launching a regional Citizens Community Bank newlyweds that opened a business duringmagazine. She has been an advocate for a pandemic, and a woman who expandedsmall businesses, and her shoes will be Gladwin-Vaughn Architecture When we think of entrepreneurs, we oftenher business from one to five locations.hard to fill. Im grateful for the opportunity Hamilton Estate Planning think of corporate giants. Their storiesCongratulations to members of the 2020- to tell her story and highlight her years of of success are widely known. Jeff Bezos,service to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Were open for business in SouthLEM Ag & Specialty Marketing founder of Amazon, started by selling2021 Team South Georgia. This is our thirdbusiness community.Georgia. From opening a new businessMediacom Business books online from his garage. Sam Waltonyear to select professionals recognized as or expanding an existing one, instarted the mega Walmart retail chaincommunity champions for their innovativeCan you hear us now? I am thrilled to Moultrie-Colquitt County Economic spirit and ability to obtain positive results.tell you about the South Georgia Insider 2020, small business owners showedDevelopment Authority from just one small store in Arkansas.Podcast. The episodes will feature resiliency and an innovative mindset,Before Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx,For more than 65 years, South Georgia Palm Travel Group revolutionized the womans undergarmentMedical Center has provided the highestconversations with business and civic no matter what came their way. leaders and community influencers about Photos by Thressea Boyd and Jenna Lindsey.PCOM South Georgia industry, she sold fax machines door-to- quality healthcare service within thethe exciting and sometimes challenging door. South Georgia Medical CenterAll businesses start small, and their stories Editor Southern Regional Technical College are filled with failures, disappointments, Thressea H. Boyd Synovus and lots of adjustments long before theirCommit your action to the Lord, and your plans Contributing Writer services or products became household Kathryn Murray Talk 92.1 names.will succeed.Designer UGA Small Business Development- PROVERBS 16:3Jessica Sharp Center, at VSU Entrepreneurs are innovators, problem solvers, risk-takers, and dreamers. Sadly, Photographers U.S. Press the entrepreneurial spirit is dwindling. Pat Gallagher Valdosta-Lowndes County According to U.S. Census Bureau data,things happening throughout South Jenna Lindsey new startups have fallen about 44 percentregion. Starting as a small 100-bed facility Wes Sewell Chamber of Commerce Georgia. You can subscribe to South since the late 1970s. known as Pineview General Hospital, SGMCGeorgia Insider through Apple Podcast and THBOYD Valdosta-Lowndes County has grown to a vast regional health system Communications, LLC Development Authority Why does this matter? Well, for starters,with a combined licensed bed capacity ofSpotify or listen at southgeorgiainsider.P.O. Box 10171 small businesses are considered the480, serving patients in a 15-county area. buzzsprout.com/.Webb Properties backbone of Americas enterprise system Valdosta, GA 31604-0171 We invite you to be part of the editor@sgamag.com Wes Sewell Photography and generate almost 45 percent of theThe legendary basketball coach Johnconversation. Do you have a suggestion for U.S. gross national product. In smallWooden once said, Everything we Wiregrass Georgia Technical College rural communitieswhich in Georgiaknow, weve learned from someonean article or podcast episode? Join us as The South Georgia Business + Culture Magazinewe continue to tell the compelling stories provides a unique niche in the publication marketWorth County Economic Developmentrepresents 120 out of 159 countiessmallelse. Through the years, Ive had manyof growth and success in South Georgia. within South Georgia. The magazines editorial missionAuthority(often locally owned) businesses are amentors in my life. People whove providedSend your suggestions to editor@sgamag.is to inform readers and create a synergy surroundingsignificant employment source, especiallyguidance, encouragement, and wisdom com.South Georgias business climate, economic growth,in downtown districts. and most recently, helped me through the and cultural visibility.South Georgia Business + Culture/SouthGeorgiaMagazine/journey of small business ownership. At the Magazine is published by THBoyd Communications,Throughout the past 11 issues of Southtop of that list is Myrna Ballard, who haseditor@sgamag.comLLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or/SouthGAMag Georgia Business + Culture Magazine, in part without written permission from THBoyd/SouthGeorgiaMagazine/ we have featured more than 45served as the Valdosta-Lowndes Countysgamag.comCommunications, LLC is prohibited.entrepreneurship articles from startups to multi-generational family-owned 4 SG MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 BUSINESS + CULTURE 5'